Wednesday, December 7, 2011

“In pursuing this pro-U.S. course, Wickremesinghe has been supported by two dynamic advisers, Minister of Constitutional Affairs G.L. Peiris and Minister of Economic Reform Milinda Moragoda.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeak database. The cable classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” analyses the Sri Lanka’s pro – US foreign policy under the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The cable was written on May 29, 2003 by the US Ambassador to Colombo E. Ashley Wills.

Ambassador Wills wrote “In general, the Oxford-educated Peiris’ focus has been more on cultivating ties with former colonial power Britain and other Commonwealth countries, but he is very pro-U.S. and often visits Washington. More than Peiris’, Moragoda’s direct focus has been on cultivating relations with the U.S. and with India. Re the U.S., the intelligent, articulate Moragoda is a perfect fit. Born in Washington, D.C, he is a dual national Amcit (please protect) married to an American, with plenty of Washington connections, many from his days as a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and at Harvard. A “big picture” person, Moragoda is also highly aware that the U.S. is the most powerful country in the world, and he feels that it is better that Sri Lanka recognize that fact and work within it.”

Placing a note the ambassador further wrote “Of late, the duo of Peiris and Moragoda have been joined by a new pro-U.S. player: In just several months on the job, Ambassador Devinda Subasinghe, a U.S.-educated financier and close friend of the PM, has already made a mark in Washington.”

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000909 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/P, IO, INR/NESA; NSC FOR E. MILLARD LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL E.O. 12958: DECL: 05-29-13 TAGS: PRELPGOVPINRCEUN SUBJECT: Sri Lanka's foreign policy: Prime Minister tilts toward U.S., but faces resistance Refs: Colombo 873, and previous (U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills. Reasons: 1.5 (b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Since coming to power, PM Wickremesinghe has taken steps to steer Sri Lankan foreign policy closer to the U.S. In doing this, he has had successes, including the signing of an ICC waiver with the U.S. and in regard to Iraq where the GSL steered a constructive course. Moreover, one of his key ministers recently proposed that the GSL take the lead in forming some sort of counterweight to NAM. That said, the PM's initiative has faced stiff resistance from MFA bureaucrats. In addition, the president and Opposition, backed by much of the press and the intelligentsia, have cut into his room for maneuver via their generally anti-U.S. biases. ¶2. (C) In the post-Iraq war environment, we think the GSL will continue to want to draw closer to the U.S. With the PM facing a precarious cohabitation situation, however, additional steps toward the USG will have to be carefully plotted out. Nonetheless, with Sri Lanka facing a difficult peace process and needing help to constrain the Tamil Tigers, we think the larger trend in the country provides ballast for the PM's pro-U.S. proclivities. END SUMMARY. -------------------- PM tilts toward U.S. -------------------- ¶3. (C) Since coming to power in late 2001, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken steps to steer Sri Lankan foreign policy closer to the U.S. Wickremesinghe's pro-U.S. views have been long-standing and are in part a function of family connections. His uncle, J.R. Jayewardene, for example, was Sri Lanka's president from the late 1970s through the late 1980s, and maintained very close links with the U.S. (Note: In fact, Jayewardene was called "Yankee Dickey" by leftists for years.) Moreover, Wickremesinghe, who comes from a very wealthy business family, is a strong advocate of free enterprise and strongly opposed to the disastrous socialist policies of former governments. Wickremesinghe is also surprisingly knowledgeable about U.S. history and politics; he is an avid reader about the American Civil War, U.S. military history, and U.S. legislation. The prime minister's pro-U.S. views also emerge out of his political calculus that Sri Lanka needs the support of the international community, especially the U.S., to constrain the Tamil Tigers. With the peace process his government's number one priority bar none, the prime minister has worked hard to secure U.S. support for his efforts in this area from very early on in his tenure. ¶4. (C) In pursuing this pro-U.S. course, Wickremesinghe has been supported by two dynamic advisers, Minister of Constitutional Affairs G.L. Peiris and Minister of Economic Reform Milinda Moragoda. (Note: Beyond their official titles, both Peiris and Moragoda play key roles as peace process negotiators and policy formulators for the GSL.) In general, the Oxford-educated Peiris' focus has been more on cultivating ties with former colonial power Britain and other Commonwealth countries, but he is very pro-U.S. and often visits Washington. More than Peiris', Moragoda's direct focus has been on cultivating relations with the U.S. and with India. Re the U.S., the intelligent, articulate Moragoda is a perfect fit. Born in Washington, D.C, he is a dual national Amcit (please protect) married to an American, with plenty of Washington connections, many from his days as a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and at Harvard. A "big picture" person, Moragoda is also highly aware that the U.S. is the most powerful country in the world, and he feels that it is better that Sri Lanka recognize that fact and work within it. ¶5. (C) (((Note: Of late, the duo of Peiris and Moragoda have been joined by a new pro-U.S. player: In just several months on the job, Ambassador Devinda Subasinghe, a U.S.-educated financier and close friend of the PM, has already made a mark in Washington.))) WILLS

United We Stand........

Without allowing history to repeat itself, we must draw lessons from history and bear in mind that like in the past vested interests will never give up their efforts to destabilize our nation through intrigue. For them creating dissent is by far the most successful way to achieve their goal. Therefore the political leaders of the government and the opposition together with the military leaders of this country must realize that united we will be able to defeat such disruptive forces powered by vested interests and that divided we will fall prey to their designs. (more)